“In the future, plans are to . . .”, “I sure want to – I plan to start next week. . .” , “I plan on making that my New Year’s resolution next year. . .” – Yes, we all “plan” to do all sorts of things one day. “Planning” – well, that’s easy. How many of us have “planned” on starting that diet at the first of the week? month? year? How many are “planning” on going back to school one day or “planning” on saving for retirement? Now, don’t get me wrong – it’s good to “plan the work and work the plan.” In fact, most things won’t get accomplished, if some preparation isn’t done in advance. But, planning is the easy part. It can even be the “fun part.” Action – now, to quote Dorothy from the “Wizard of Oz,” “that’s a horse of a different color!”
Why is it easy to “plan,” but so difficult to put those plans into action? Sometimes we take “planning” seriously, but we forget that there will be times when we fail. We aren’t perfect. We may start off with the best of intentions, yet, when we stumble, we don’t have a “back-up plan.” Or maybe we do have a “plan B,” but what we need is “plan T.” Life is what happens in the meantime. Are you so caught up in the “Won’t it be awesome when. . .”, that you’ll letting the “here and now” slip by? You know, the “present” is an appropriate name for the “here and now” – today is a gift from God. We must take advantage of the time and opportunities that we’ve been given.
I challenge you to “open up” the present that God has given you called “today.’ Don’t put off until tomorrow what should be started today. “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (II Corinthians 6:2). Simply blessed, Courtney